<h1>President raises H-1B annual fee to $100,000, requires 12-month payment for overseas petitions, creates Gold Card pathway</h1> The President issued a proclamation raising the H-1B visa fee to USD 100,000 annually, effective 12:01 a.m. on September 21, 2025, and directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny petitions for specialty-occupation H-1B workers outside the United States that are not accompanied by the payment for 12 months. The proclamation authorizes State Department guidance to curb B-visa misuse, exempts hires deemed in the national interest, and targets outsourcing firms alleged to have abused the program. The change risks stranding holders abroad, pressures employers to fund renewals or departures, and is paired with an executive order creating a paid 'Gold Card' expedited residency pathway.